Two Venice Area Properties Served With Narcotics Lawsuits

City Attorney Mike Feuer today announced that his office has filed two narcotics abatement lawsuits against the owners of two narcotics plagued properties in the Venice community. The lawsuits are part of a continued crackdown by City Attorney Feuer and law enforcement on narcotics and crime magnet properties across Los Angeles including two lawsuits filed against properties in Hollywood and South Los Angeles last month.

“We allege that for too long, these properties have been epicenters of drug-related crime that threatens the safety and quality of life of neighboring families,” said Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer. “Enough is enough. My office will continue to fight to rid our neighborhoods of serious nuisances that can drag down entire communities.”

Narcotics and public nuisance abatement lawsuits have been filed against Cheryl Sugasawara Oyenoki the owner of a property located at 12950 Admiral Avenue, her boyfriend Christopher Menefee, and Alberta Lynch the owner of a property at 923 Sunset Avenue, as well as her adult son James Lynch.

The Admiral Avenue property is a single family home located in a quiet neighborhood in Los Angeles approximately one half mile from Short Avenue Elementary School and Marina Del Rey Middle School, and three houses away from Glen Alla Park. The property has been repeatedly reported to law enforcement as a location used to supply narcotics dealers who sell drugs in the neighborhood and park.

Since just Nov. 2014, there have been six arrests as a result of narcotics activity at the property.

The civil abatement action seeks an injunction tightly restricting criminal activity on the property as well as prohibiting Defendant Menefee from being within 1,000 feet from the home at any time and for any reason.

The Sunset Avenue property is a single family home located in Venice located within a half mile radius of the Growing Place Childcare and School, Broadway Elementary School, Marine Park, Penmar Golf Course, Penmar Recreation Center/Park, and Oakwood Recreation Center. Law enforcement has received several complaints from neighbors about repeated narcotics and nuisance activity at the property. Since April 2014, there have been at least 16 arrests as a result of activity at the property.

The civil abatement action is seeking an injunction to prohibit the property owner and known family members and associates from unlawfully selling, manufacturing or storing controlled substances on the property. The proposed injunction also seeks to require Defendant Lynch’s son James Lynch to stay at least 1,000 feet from the property.

Deputy City Attorney Nancy Hagan of the City Attorney’s Citywide Nuisance Abatement Program is handling both cases.

The filing of the civil abatement cases in the Venice-area follows the filing of two similar cases in February as part of a coordinated effort to clean up drug and gang controlled properties in Hollywood and South Los Angeles. Both matters are still pending.

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In today’s world of RSS feeds, they felt that a blog would be a perfect place for people to let others know how they view the Venice Beach community through words and pictures. It is hoped that this site will become a communal blog with many people submitting stories for all in the community to share.